New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) granted an operational licence to the newly revamped Solapur Airport — making it ready for aircraft operations.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) upgraded the existing Solapur Airfield at a cost of Rs 64.95 crore, making it capable of handling Q-400 and BCH-1900D aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security conducted two rounds of safety and security checks, after which a final report was submitted to the DGCA. The DGCA also conducted its own inspection before granting the licence.
Although its inauguration was originally scheduled for September 26, it has been delayed due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cancelled visit to Maharashtra caused by heavy rainfall.
Solapur, known for its textile industry and agricultural products, is expected to benefit significantly from the airport’s redevelopment. Spread across 365.85 acres, Solapur Airport now includes a renovated terminal, an expanded aircraft parking apron, and new fire and air traffic control (ATC) facilities. The terminal can handle up to 150 passengers during peak hours and accommodate 4.1 lakh passengers annually.
Further, as per reports, a new flight service between Pune and Solapur is expected to launch soon after the airport’s inauguration. Operated by Goa based Fly91— under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme — which supports airlines facing operational losses, the flight will reduce travel time between the two cities to approximately 40-45 minutes.
Although plans for a Solapur-Mumbai flight were initially considered, delays have prompted the Ministry of Civil Aviation to prioritise the Pune-Solapur route. Further, the Solapur-Mumbai service will likely begin by the end of November.
